The following is extracted from the Upper Hutt Philatelic Society publication The First 30 Years - Compiled by John Goose
The Beginning By Murray Maxwell
In 1963 a notice was inserted in the Upper Hutt Leader by the Rotary Club, saying that they would like to form a philatelic society for Upper Hutt. All interested people to join them at a meeting to be held in the Heretaunga College library.
The meeting was held on Wednesday 29 May 1963 at 8pm in the Heretaunga College Staffroom.
Present at the Inaugural meeting were 15 people : Mrs P Fidler; Miss Wright; Messers M Maxwell; B Major; J Simcock; N Rowley; R Cameron; E Jarvis; I Malcolm; H McKinnon; G Lemchen; A Hawke; D Leonard; N McInnes and A Rhodes.
During the discussion on that evening is was agreed that "A Philatelic Society be formed in Upper Hutt".
They were a keen bunch of people. They also suggested that a regular meeting night be the third Monday in the month, with the next meeting to be June 17 1963 at 8pm. This still remains our regular meeting night now, at the Wesley Centre.
A committee was formed and selected those present, with Mr N Rowley as president, Mr E Jarvis as secretary and Mr R Cameron as treasurer and to organise the care and distribution of circuit books.
From that meeting we have had 30 years of club organisation.
The society started off slowly with members gradually joining at meetings that were held once a month in the Heretaunga College library, or a classroom. At this time a lot of our new members came from the College and we had more junior representation than senior members. Different from today's members, who are nearly all seniors.